Catfish NOW – Dec 2024

Hooked on Christmas: Celebrating Faith, Family and Fishing

By Dan Dannenmueller, Publisher

Christmas is almost here. It is one of the best times of the year to celebrate or rekindle relationships and passions with family and friends. These are the foundations of a healthy society. Having an extended family is important as well.

An extended family can include clubs, groups, affiliations and the sharing within them. Specifically, if you have the passion for catfishing, surrounding yourself with folks who share your zeal and the joy it brings you and them is a blessing.

What I find rewarding is the fun while out fishing with all of those previously mentioned. This is especially rewarding when lots of laughter and stress-relieving fish catches abound. A personal best is like winning the lottery or a trophy of sorts. It’s an achievement of a contest between the fish and yourself.

Cold Weather, Hot Fishing For Big Blue Cats By Brent Frazee

Yeah, it’s cold, but the fishing for blue catfish often is hot in the winter, Mike Baker will tell you. Photos courtesy of Mike Baker   Cold Weather, Hot Fishing For Big Blue Cats By Brent Frazee Missouri fisherman finds the best fishing of the year during winter   It takes a lot to keep […]

Stump Jumpin’ for Winter Cats Story and photos by Terry Madewell

When guide Kyle Austin sets up on the right spot, fast action is the norm for the Stump Jumpin’ tactic.   Stump Jumpin’ for Winter Cats Story and photos by Terry Madewell Stump Jumpin’ for winter catfish is a fast-paced technique that requires plenty of effort from guide Kyle Austin, but the rewards are worth […]

Great Baits for Winter Catfishing Story and photos by Keith “Catfish” Sutton

A big chunk of fresh skipjack herring or shad is hard to beat for winter catfish bait.   Great Baits for Winter Catfishing Story and photos by Keith “Catfish” Sutton Unlock the secrets to winter catfishing success with tried-and-true baits that cold-weather catfish can’t ignore. Live sunfish can be caught on crickets, worms or small [...]

Are We Scaring New Anglers Away? Story and photos by Brad Durick

This young man caught this fish in 2022 and has visited the author every year since, excited to fight another big catfish and enjoy the great sport of catfishing.   Are We Scaring New Anglers Away? Story and photos by Brad Durick Are we as anglers scaring away other potential anglers of all ages? We […]

Catfish Basics #172—Some Basic Tips for Night Fishing Story and photo by Keith “Catfish” Sutton

Big cats like this flathead often prowl the shallows more at night, leading to more hookups for lucky anglers like these.   Catfish Basics #172—Some Basic Tips for Night Fishing Story and photo by Keith “Catfish” Sutton Master the art of after-dark angling with these essential strategies for catching more catfish. Forty years ago, most […]

Catfish Gear #83

B’n’M Fishing’s Stealth Strike Bumping Rod By Keith “Catfish” Sutton Bumping just became even more productive with the release of this new rod from B’n’M Poles. Bumping is one of the fastest-growing techniques in catfishing and is a tactic now used very often by fishermen on big rivers like the Mississippi. Instead of sitting in [...]

Flathead Catfish Impacting Susquehanna’s Food Chain

To determine what the flathead catfish were eating, researchers collected 576 of them over two years, with 241 individuals having recoverable stomach contents. The researchers extracted DNA from those contents to identify what the fish were eating. (Keith Sutton photo)   Flathead Catfish Impacting Susquehanna’s Food Chain Source: Penn State News Study’s findings may lead […]

Channel Cats Stocked Statewide in Indiana

Channel Cats Stocked Statewide in Indiana Source: Indiana Dept. of Natural Resources State DNR stocks 51,000 channel catfish across 157 locations   The Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has stocked 157 locations with approximately 51,000 catfish this fall to expand angling opportunities across the state. All stocked channel catfish were stocked in publicly accessible […]

Page from the Past: The Last of the Big Ones By T.P. Coffin and Henig Cohen

Page from the Past: The Last of the Big Ones By T.P. Coffin and Henig Cohen   In their 1973 book “Folklore from the Working Folk of America,” T.P. Coffin and Henig Cohen recount a vivid catfish tale from Robert Wolfender of Etowah, Tennessee. Set in 1945 along the Cumberland River, this story paints a […]

CFN How-to Video with Michael Haney and Rodney Crimm

Mississippi catfish pros Michael Haney and Rodney Crimm share some information about one of their favorite catfishing tools: the Millennium Marine Sidekick Fishing Double Seat, which allows two fishermen to sit side by side on the bow or stern of the boat for suspend fishing, longlining and other productive techniques.